True to my word (or at least to my wish), I tackled the easier of the two trees I want to process before snow arrives Friday night. We bounced off of 10°F at dawn yesterday, and though the afternoon would be sunny and downright balmy for late January (50°F), I got busy while it was still early and still cold.
Once again I chose the 20V chainsaw for the job. The task-at-hand was well within its capabilities, plus it’s lightweight and quiet. Once I’d parked the Ranger at the edge of the woods near the worksite, I pulled out my tools to sharpen and adjust the chain.
Cutting the trunk into log lengths went smoothly. What I generally do is score the wood every 16 to 19 inches (I don’t measure, I eyeball) and then cut every four feet or so. That gives me a manageable log that I can carry out easily.
So when I score twice and cut through on the third, by bucking at the marks I get three stove lengths.
As often happens, while working on this tree I saw a smaller oak nearby, on the ground and worth taking. The two trees together, bucked and loaded, were a nice little haul.
About 90% of that would need to be split. Because this oak succumbed to a beetle infestation, some of it was hollowing and the very center of the heartwood was pithy. I figured splitting it by hand would be easy.
I was right about that. No trouble at all.
Very little effort got me a substantial pile of splits.
All of it, of course, was stacked on pallet #4 (formerly known as pallet #5).
And that finished off the pallet — it’s now full. A good feeling. On to #5 (again).
I loaded the Ranger’s bed with seasoned firewood and trucked it to the cabin. Later, I scooped ashes and coals out of the woodstove. (I had to dump the outdoor ash can to make room for the hot stuff.)
Walking back with the empty metal bucket, I cast a glance down at the wood yard and smiled. I took a picture.
I don’t think there’s any way to tell you what that sight represents to me and why it makes me smile. As much as anything on The Mountain, it symbolizes my life and everything I want it to be.
It’s great to be here.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable